---
title: "CVE-2026-41294: OpenClaw has a CWD `.env` environment variable injection which bypasses host-env policy and allows config takeover"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-41294/
description: "CVE-2026-41294 (openclaw (npm)): OpenClaw before 2026.3.28 loads the current working directory .env file before trusted state-dir configuration, allowing…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-04-20
date_modified: 2026-04-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2026-41294"
kev: false
cvss: 8.5
epss: 0.00189
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2026-41294: OpenClaw has a CWD `.env` environment variable injection which bypasses host-env policy and allows config takeover

**Signal:** Normal patch cycle. No exploitation signal; fix it in your next routine update if you are affected. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 0.2% , percentile 8: FIRST’s model estimates a 0.2% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 8% of all scored CVEs (low). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs local access needed. Lower urgency for most teams unless an attacker could already run code on the machine.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes openclaw (npm) <= 2026.3.24, fixed in 2026.3.28 . Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.

## What it is

OpenClaw before 2026.3.28 loads the current working directory .env file before trusted state-dir configuration, allowing environment variable injection. Attackers can place a malicious .env file in a repository or workspace to override runtime configuration and security-sensitive environment settings during OpenClaw startup.

## Affected packages

- npm `openclaw` <= 2026.3.24 → fixed: 2026.3.28

## Affected products (CVE record)

- OpenClaw OpenClaw: < 2026.3.28

## Severity

- VulnCheck CVSS 4.0: 8.5 `CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`
- VulnCheck CVSS 3.1: 8.6 `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- GitHub CVSS 3.1: 9.6 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 0.19% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 8.

## Sources

- [GitHub Security Advisory (GHSA-8rh7-6779-cjqq)](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-8rh7-6779-cjqq)
- [GitHub Advisory GHSA-8rh7-6779-cjqq](https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-8rh7-6779-cjqq)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2026-41294](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-41294)
- [NVD entry CVE-2026-41294](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-41294)
- [VulnCheck Advisory: OpenClaw < 2026.3.28 - Environment Variable Injection via CWD .env File](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-environment-variable-injection-via-cwd-env-file)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/commit/6a793248024dca7685f63bcceb64a0096fd1586d)
- [github.com](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases/tag/v2026.3.28)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2026-41294/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt